If nature only cared about minimizing energy, all the gas molecules around us would collapse to the floor and we would suffocate. If nature only maximized entropy, all the gas would expand and disperse throughout the universe, and we would suffocate.
I am going to finally start putting my lecture notes online 😄 For now, I'm beginning with the course notes for AP203/228, which is a two-quarter series: * First quarter: Primarily focused on quantum optics and atomic physics (taught collaboratively with Ben Lev, Monika Schleier-Smith, and Jon Simon) * Second
A conversation with Wentao.